Stranraer's promotion hopes suffered a dent as they were forced to settle for a point in a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Berwick.

But with Arbroath beating Clydebank, it was enough to keep them in the automatic promotion places, 17 points behind leaders Partick.

Berwick had the better of the opening exchanges and went ahead after 19 minutes with a goal out of nothing when Mark Duthie spectacularly let fly from 30 yards and left goalkeeper Mark McGeown helpless.

Stranraer battled back and stand-in forward Allan Jenkins should have done better with a shot, which hit goalkeeper Mark McLean from point-blank range.

McGeown pulled off a great save from Barry Elliot to keep Stranraer's hopes alive and Jenkins made amends for his earlier miss with a 58th-minute equaliser, heading home Ian Harty's cross at the far post.

A share of the spoils was a fair outcome in a dour scrap with neither outfit looking like promotion material.